Gallinula mortierii, a flightless water bird, one of twelve species of birds endemic to Tasmania (they don’t exist anywhere else). While in New Zealand, flightless birds have done badly since humans colonised, the native hen has done quite well thanks to the extensive new grassy areas.

I photographed this bird at Adventure Bay, Bruny Island. I met an old lady there – British originally, but lived in Queensland most of her life. She was travelling around in her camper van, and was very taken with these birds. She referred to them as "turbo chooks" which I found very endearing.

Writer, photographer, environmental campaigner and "known troublemaker" Dave Walsh is the founder of Blather.net, described both as "possibly the most arrogant and depraved website to be found either side of the majestic Shannon River", and "the nicest website circulating in Ireland". Half Irishman, half-bicycle. He lives in southern Irish city of Barcelona.